Jaw adjusting means for plier-type wrenches



Aug. 19, 1952 l. zEls'sL. 2,607,250

JAW ADJUSTING MEANS FOR PLIER-TYPE WRENCHES Filed April 22, 1950 IN l( EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITE-Dv, STATE.

l WRENCHES Ignaz-zeiss, vienna, Austria .1

Application April 22, 1950;, 'Serial No. 1553524 InAustria May 5, 1949 j Adjustable vwrenches are known, the jaws of which, similar to those 4of pliers, are prolonged backwardly to form handles, and 'which may be adjusted to different jaw distances by means yof a set screw which extends at right angles to the jaws. All these types, however, have so lheavy drawbacks that lthey have not been successful in practice. In one embodiment, e. g., the vset screw, supported in a complicated frame, is stressed by eccentric pressure. In another type the 'set screw is under tensile stress but the yclosing force is transmitted through an 'inter- 'mediate lever and an additional 'nut from one jaw lever tothe other.

These wrenches yield to 'the application of force. They are unhandy, heavy, vand expensive in manufacture. Another drawback of theirs is 'that the set screw has a wingor knurled nut for 4the adjustment of .the Vjaw distance. This nut results lin Van additional expense of material, which 'is particularly undesirable at the head of the vwrench becausek the wrench becomes 'bulky land. unhandy. l

According tothe inventon these drawbacks are eliminated 'in that the transverse screw 'connecting the jaws has its female thread in one "jaw'and isv connected, whether rigidly or` movably, 'with the counter-jaw, and can be screwed into the first-mentioned jaw by turning said 'jaw about 'the screw axis. "This solution eliminating the need for intermediate members, such 'as knurled nuts, for adjusting the set screw, the screw can vbe provided 'quite in front, near the mouth of the wrench, so that the stress on the jaws is rreduced to V'a minimum, the wrench Yhead becomingstronger 'and the wrench being suitable 'for use even where the working space is restricted.

The accompanying drawing shows, by 'way of example, several embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a partially sectional elevation showing the wrench,with an articulated counter-jaw;

Fig. 2 shows a similar type .comprising a lever yin the 'counter-jaw j Fig. 3 isvan elevation showing a wrench, the transverse screw of which is rigidly 'connected to the counter-jaw; rand Fig. 4 is lan elevation showing the head ofthe 'wrench with a strut pawl.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the transverse screw I can be screwed into the 'female threadf2 of the jaw 3 and isv mounted by means ofthe pin 5 in the jaw 6, so as to be pivotally movable 'aboutthe 'eye-head 4. yFor -turriingthe 'transverse'screw l' in the jaw 3, the handles Tand t, of the two 'grippingmembers y'crossir'ig 'farther 55 back, must be spread apart. The set` screw 9 serves for securing the .adjusted jaw distance :of the wrench fand, engaging with the resilient counter-j aw 6, .it .prevents any unintentional turning of the jaws.

In the embodiment shown in lFig. 2 the `counter-jaw 26 lis provided with :a resilient lever i0., which is linked by means of a pin Il to the vend of the jaw and is supported :by the set screw 9. `The adjustment of the wrench .is effected by turning 'the transverse .screw l by means of the jaw 6 of the gripping member provided with lever Hl as a handle. To hold the jaws parallel the set screw 9 must be adjusted accordingly after each adjustment of the transverse screw. When, however. the wrench is held, in adjusting its jaw distance, not at the handle 1 of the jaw 3., but at the screw head 'l2 of the set .screw 9,. one screw will `screw out, the `'other one screw in, so that if the pitch is the same both screws will be adjusted evenly and .in the proper senses.

Fig. 3 shows `a wrench having parallel handle portions 1 and 8. The adjusting screw Al is fixedly mounted in the jaw ll. When jaw .6 is rotated about the axis of the adjusting screw I, the same is `screwed into or out of the threaded .hole ,provided in jaw 3 whereby the distance betweenthe two jaws of the wrench :is adjusted. 'The position of jaws 3 `and 6 is locked by a set :screw 9 which engages with an Unthreaded end portion a recess in the Vopposite handle. Since the yset screw 9 extends parallel to vthe vadjusting screw I, andsince the length oi the portion thereof extending. between y"the two handles .is being adjusted, the two gripping members, comprising jaw portions 6, 3 and handle portions 1 B are lockedl against relative rotation about the yaxis vofthe adjusting screw. .At the same 'time the two handle portions .are blocked so that the adjusting screw 'is `not exposed to fa torque when the two handle portions are pressed together.

'It .is within the scope of the ,invention to modify, the embodiments shown, e. g., as shown on Fig. 4, by mounting the connecting screw :by 'means of a pin-less head 4" h'aving a round vertical central section in a suitable recess `of the counter-jaw; which recess has a constriction at the bottom. 'The strut pawl l-B is preferably linked to the lever lll.

*.'What Iclaim is:`

Jaw adjustingmeansfor plier type'wrenches c'ornprisingiir'i combination, two .gripping mem'- 'bejrs arranged vopposite 'each other,v each gripping jmemberginclgdns ai??? 'Portion and ai .handle portion, fonewof saidrgr'ipping''membersv being gripping member is rotated about said axisv d, whereby one full rotation causes an adjustment of the distance between said jaw portions for the pitch of said adjusting screw; and locking means mounted in one of said gripping members between said threaded hole and the handle portionA thereof engaging the other of said gripping members and adapted to lock said gripping members against relative movement after the distance between said jawvporti'ons has been adjusted by relative rotation of said two gripping members.

2. Jaw adjusting means for plier type wrenches, comprising in combination, two gripping members arranged opposite each other, each gripping member. including a jaw portion and a handle portion-.one of' said gripping members being formed with a threaded hole 'located intermediate saidvjaw portion and said handle :portion and having its axis normal to the plane of symmetry between saidtwo gripping members; an adjusting screw havinga common axis with said threaded hole in assembled position of said gripping members and xedly mounted at one end thereof in the other of saidfgripping members for rotation about its axis together with said other of said gripping members, and threaded with its other end into-said threaded hole so as to be screwed into and o'ut of the same when said other gripping member ,is rotated about said V axis whereby one fullv rotation causes an adjustment of the distance between said jaw portions for Vthe pitch of said adjusting screw; and locking means mounted in rone of said gripping members between said threaded-hole and the handle portion thereof engaging the other-of said gripping members and adaptedftolocksaid gripping, members against relative movement 'after the distanceV between said jaw .portions has been, adjusted by relative rrotation-.of saidtwo gripping members.

3. Jaw adjusting means for plier type wrenches, comprising in combination, two gripping members arranged opposite each other, each gripping member including a jaw portion and a handle portion. one ofv said gripping members being formed with a threaded hole located intermediate said jaw portion and said handle portion and having its axia1 normal to the plane of symmetry between said two lgripping members;V an adjusting screw having a common axis with said threaded hole in assembled position of said gripping members and mounted at one end thereof in the otherof said -gripping members :pivotally about anvfaxis normal to the plane defined by said axis, of said adjustingzscrew and by said gripping members for rotation about its axis together with said other of said gripping members, and threaded with its other end intoy said threadedv hole so as to be screwed into and out of the same Awhen said other gripping member is rotated about said vaxis whereby nefull'rotation causes. an adjustment of the distancebtwen saidl jaw portiof'ns for the pitch 'offvsaidad sting screw; andlo'ckying means I'niinte'dQinfoiegofrsaid; gripping mein'- bers between said threaded hole and the handle portion thereof engaging the other of said gripping members and adapted to lock said gripping members against relative movement after the distance between said jaw portions has been adjusted by relative rotation of said two gripping members.

4. yJ aw adjusting means for plier type wrenches, comprising; in combinatiomtwo gripping members arranged opposite each other, each gripping member including a jaw portion and a handle portion, one of said gripping members being formed with two threaded holes, one of said holes Vadjacent to the jaw portion, and the other spaced therefrom located in the handle portion of said gripping member, said holes having axes normal to the plane of symmetry between said two gripman; afi. "adi ping members; an adjusting screw having a common axis with said threaded hole adjacent to the jaw portion in assembled position of said gripping members and mounted at one end thereof in the other of said grippingl members for rotation about its `axis together with said other of said gripping members, and threadedwith its other. end into said threaded hole adjacent to the jaw portion so as to be screwed into and out of the same when said other -gripping member is rotated about said axis whereby one full rotation causes an adjustment ofthe distance lbetween said jaw portions for the pitch of vsaid adjusting screw; and a locking screw threaded Vthrough said threaded hole in said handle portion and having an unthreaded end portion engaging a recess in the handle portion of the other of said gripping members and adapted to lock said grippingmembers against relative movement after the distance between said jaw portions has been adjusted by relative rotation of said two gripping members.

5. J awA adjusting meansfor plier type wrenches, comprising in combination, two gripping members arranged opposite each other,feach gripping memberincluding a'jaw portion andA a'handle portion, one of said gripping members being formed with a threaded hole located. intermediate said jaw portion'and said handle portion and havingv its axis normal to the plane of symmetry betweensaid two gripping members; an adjusting screw having a common axis with said threaded hole inassembled 'position ofs'aid gripping members `and mounted at one end thereof in the other of said gripping members pivotally about an axisnormal to the plane dened'by said axis of 'said adjusting screw and byl said gripping members for 'rotationabout its axis together withsaid other of said gripping members, and threaded with its other end'into said threaded hole so as to be screwed into and. out of the same when said'o'thergripping" member'is rotated about said axis whereby one full rotation causes an adjustmentv of th' 'distance betweensaid ja'w portions for the pitchof'isaid adjusting' screw;

spring-operated ratchet meanspivotally'niounted in the handle portion of said otherof said gripping members; and a pawl'xedly mounted-in said one of said gripping members vengaging said ratchet means and adapted to" lock said gripping members against relative'mo'vement. after the distance between said jaw portions has been adjusted by relative rotation of said'twog'ripping members.l i

6. Jaw adjusting means for plier type wrenches, comprisingA in combination, two 'z'grippingfmem- `bers arranged opposite e'a'ch other, each' Ygripping member. including a 'portion' and handle i?? nslmmbs'! be'g formed with a threaded hole located intermediate said jaw portion and said handle portion and having its axis normal to the plane of symmetry between said two gripping members, and the other of said gripping members having its handle portion mounted on said jaw portion pivotally about an axis normal to the plane de-` fined by said axis and by said gripping members; an adjusting screw having a common axis with said threaded hole in assembled position of said gripping members and mounted at one end thereof in the other of said gripping members lpivotally about an axis normal to the plane dened by said axis of said adjusting screw and by said gripping members for rotation about its axis tgether with said other of said gripping members, and threaded with its other end into said threaded hole so as to be screwed into and out of the same when said other` gripping member is rotated about said axis whereby one full rotation causes an adjustment of the distance between said jaw portion for the pitch of said adjusting screw; a Vpin passing through said pivotally mounted handle portion spaced a short distance from the pivoting point of the same; and locking means mounted in said handle portion of said one of said gripping members and engaging said pin so as to permit a pivoting movement of said pivotally mounted handle portion causing a pivotal movement of said jaw portion, and further engaging a recess in said pivotally mounted handle portion of said other of said gripping members, and adapted to lock said gripping members against relative movement after the distance between said jaw portions has been adjusted by relative rotation of said two gripping members.

7. vJ aw adjusting means for plier type wrenches, comprising in combination, two gripping members arranged opposite each other, each gripping member including a jaw portion and a handle portion, one of said gripping members being formed with two threaded holes, one of said holes adjacent to the jaw portion, and the other spaced therefrom located in the handle portion of said gripping member, said holes having axes normal to the plane of symmetry between said two gripping members; an adjusting screw having a common axis with said threaded hole adjacent to the jaw portion in assembled position of said gripping members and mounted at one end thereof in the other of said gripping members for rotation about its axis together with said other of said gripping members, and threaded with its other end into said threaded hole adjacent to the jaw portion so as to be screwed into and out of the same when said other gripping member is rotated about said axis whereby one full rotation causes an adjustment of the distance between said jaw portions for the pitch of said adjusting screw; a pin passing through said pivotally mounted handle portion spaced a short vdistance from the pivoting point of the same; and a locking screw threaded through said threaded hole in said handle portion in said one gripping member and having an unthreaded end portion abutting against said pin so as to permit a lpivoting movement of said pivotally mounted handle portion causing a pivotal movement oi said jaw portion, said end portion of said locking screw also engaging a recess in said pivotally mounted handle portion of said other of said gripping members and adapted to lock said gripping members against relative movement after the distance lbetween said jaw portions has been adjusted by relative rotation of said two gripping members.

IGNAZ ZEISSL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 612,982 Whitman et al Oct. 25, 1898 840,549 Aupke Jan. 8, 1907 1,094,400 Burgess Apr. 21, 1914 1,136,618 Robinson et al Apr. 20, 1915 1,170,334 Riggs Feb. 1, 1916 1,453,854 Parker May 1, 1923 1,647,340 Burch Nov. 1, 1927 2,398,209 Clemens Apr. 9, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Y Number Country Date 713,451 Germany Nov. 7, 1941 

